Description:"A poem," said William Carlos Williams, "is a small (or large) machine made of words--efficient, with no unnecessary parts, doing important work." In this workshop, students learn how to build verse, from the individual word through lines and stanzas to the finished, polished poem. Poetic inspiration is explored: what activities can summon it and how to use it when it happens. Writing exercises help students practice basic elements of the craft, such as line breaks, voice, and openings and closings. Students read a variety of modern and contemporary poets, selected according to the interests and needs of the class. In every class meeting, students' poems are read and discussed to clarify their strengths and develop students' understanding of the process of revision.